ICC defers decision on 'Position Paper'

Following a heated meeting in Dubai, the International Cricket Council has decided against taking any decisions at the present time on the draft proposal, produced by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, that recommended a series of sweeping changes to international cricket.

On the first day of the conference - which brought together the appointees of the 10 Test-playing nations, three associate nation representatives and the ICC's own president, vice-president and chief executive - it was decided to defer that the highly controversial 'position paper' as its proposals could not be brought to vote due to objections from several member boards.

The ICC will hold a follow-up meeting next month to continue discussions on the draft proposal.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had both called for the withdrawal of the "position paper" and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf, speaking to the media before the meeting, said they were not alone.

"Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, we all have one stance. Let us see what we vote inside. We will stick to our stance," Ashraf told media before entering the meeting in Dubai.

"They (India) have offered us to play series on neutral venues but we have to see how sincere they are in their offerings," Ashraf had said. "Pakistan has stuck to its stance and we can see there is a reaction on this proposal."

Meanwhile, ICC president Alan Isaac was quoted as saying: "These principles emphasise the primacy of Test cricket and that for the first time in cricket's history participation will be based entirely on meritocracy, giving everyone powerful incentives to play better cricket and develop better cricketers."

"There is more work to be done by the Members in developing their schedules of bilateral cricket while at the ICC we need to work through the detail of the manner in which these principles will be implemented."

"Extensive work will now be undertaken in advance of a follow-up Board meeting next month."

Earlier, Ehsan Mani, a former ICC president had also written to the body, slamming the proposal and was joined by former top officials, Malcolm Speed and Malcolm Gray. Former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd was also one of the signatories in the letter.